Material: Americana and country that curve in and out of the rock and roll realm. Moran’s music is sweet, in tune, and hip in nature. A little Paul Simon combined with a bit of Hootie and the Blowfish comes across quite well with the band’s Simon and Garfunkel-like choruses. Moran’s material encompasses everything from slow and chill country to rock & roll that raises your blood pressure a few notches.

Musicianship: Moran’s acoustical skills shine, while Turret on the lead guitar lets his fingers fly loose, keeping the music fresh and edgy. Kelly Irelan does a good job on backing vocals and keys while Pederson and Gallela set the tempo and keep everyone in line and on time. They all mesh well with one another, sharing laughs and looks on state that are usually reserved for old hands with a decade or more of experience together.

Performance: Yankee Doodle’s and The Matt Moran Band go hand in hand; fun, country-like and just a plain good time. At this show, the musicians had to share a small stage but they played big, showed a lot of heart and sound and left nothing in the dressing room. Moran was the most interesting to watch as he moved about the limited stage area, squeezing every ounce of energy from himself.

Summary: The member of The Matt Moran Band and their material are perfectly suited to each other – like a country breakfast down on the farm, it just fits. Their lyrics speak of doing the right thing – honesty, truth, integrity. Combine that with Americana overtones and the result is a show with a lot of soul.– Tom Laurie